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(PEP). A person that is exposed to rabies will have to go to the Emergency Room to receive PEP shots to prevent rabies. Now is the time for us to prepare ourselves to protect the health of our animal and human companions. Recognizing that rabies is a dynamic as well as deadly zoonotic disease, we must reinforce and fulfill our responsibilities for what is increasingly called "One Health, " that is, the interdependent health of humans and all other animals. Unfortunately, human fatalities from rabies are not just part of our parents and grandparent's memories. In fact, our last human fatality from rabies in North Carolina occurred in 2011, when a young man in Jones County acquired raccoon variant rabies after being bitten by a raccoon. This case from North Carolina was only the second case of Eastern Raccoon Variant (ER V) rabies ever reported in the United States. The first human case of ERV occurred in our neighbor state, Virginia, in 2003. Thus it is more important than ever for us to be very informed and very responsible pet owners and community members. We should be sure to report any and all incidences in which we or other members of our households are bitten or have contact with a wild animal. We must also make a concerted and active effort to keep all of our dogs, cats, and ferrets currently vaccinated against rabies and prevent them from having contact with wildlife through close supervision. These precautions can go a long way towards limiting the number of animals that must be quarantined or euthanized and preventing incidences of human exposures to a rabid domestic animal. Robert A. Marotto Animal Services Director, Orange County Animal Services May 13, 2014 Robert A. Marotto is the Director of Orange County Animal Services. Previously, he managed the City of Minneapolis Animal Care and Control Program. He can be reached bmarotto0orangecountVnc. qov